NEW WEB ADDRESS- The 2003 annual wolf report is at
http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov/ . It has maps of wolf pack
locations and home ranges, tables of wolf numbers and depredations,
litigation and funding issues, and summaries of scientific studies.

Mike Ross and Val Asher collared a 48-pound female pup from the Phantom
pack, on the 26th. The pack is thought to be responsible for a number of
sheep and calf depredations near Roscoe, MT since mid-March. Based on
earlier sightings there were thoughts of there being two separate groups
of wolves, so this pack will be monitored to determine their movements and
possible involvement. Traps were pulled Aug 31 and a receiver was left
with the landowner who will share location data with neighbors. Project
personnel got a visual on the pack and think the group consists of two
adults, one gray and one black and two pups, one gray and one black.

Jack Bucklin removed all of his traps near the Sapphire pack [east of
Hamilton, MT] rendezvous site on the 25th. A number of ATVs
came into the meadow and apparently displaced the wolves. Trapping has
discontinued but will resume in the Ninemile Valley after the holiday. A
family that was camping on the edge of the meadow watched the adults bring
a small animal to the pups as the pups moved out into the meadow. One of
the adults came within 200 yards of the camp, sat down, and watched the
family for about 30 minutes before going back to the pups. The family
thought it was a great opportunity to see the wolves. Sightings from the
people in the area and this family indicate that there are 5 adults and 5
pups.

Paul Frame captured a 40-pound male pup on the 21st
belonging to the Spotted Bear pack. On the 26th he stopped
trapping and will be taking a few days off before trying to collar members
of the Murphy Lake pack. Diane Boyd began searching for the Painted Rocks
pack in the west fork of the Bitterroot on the 23rd but there
was little sign and trapping was unsuccessful.

On the 26th Doug Hansen (Nez Perce [NP]) and Justin Mann,
WS, captured a 100-110# gray male wolf in the same set that B-45 was
captured in. near McCall Idaho This wolf had anold non-functioning
radio collar that appeared to have been put on the wolf as a pup and a
yellow ear tag in the left ear. It was a Greater Yellowstone Area wolf
#239 that dispersed from the Washakie pack near Dubois, WY to western
Idaho, a distance of approximately 333 airline miles.

Jason Husseman (IDFG) has been searching for suspected wolf packs in
the North Fork of the Salmon River, and assisting Rick Williamson (WS) in
attempting to capture wolves in the Salmon area. Michael Lucid and Lauri
H-Brown (IDFG) have been searching and trapping in the Copper Basin area
for suspected wolf activity. Although wolf sign has been found, wolf pack
activity centers have not but this effort continues.

NP biologists set up a trapline around the O'Hara Peak pack's
rendezvous site but were unable to capture any wolves. They also attempted
to locate and trap the Orphan pack. Although they picked up signals from
alpha female B61, there was not sufficient sign to warrant setting up a
trapline. An extensive trapline was run in the Eldorado wolf pack's
territory, but biologists were not able to locate concentrated wolf sign
or capture wolves.

NP biologists are trying to document the status of a new wolf group
north of McCall. They suspect recently captured wolf B45 was associated
with this group and may be the alpha female. They trapped this area for a
few days and although was not able to capture a wolf, confirmed the
presence of at least 3 adults. Justin Mann, WS, recently trapped a second
wolf with a non-functioning radio collar in the same area B45 was captured
and suspect this wolf is also associated with this new group of wolves.
This latest captured wolf is male Y239, a wolf born into the Washakie pack
near Dubois, Wyoming. Y239 was recollared and Tribal crews will continue
to monitor Y239 to determine the status of these wolves.

Isaac Babcock (NP) successfully ground darted a pup, B222, from the
Chesimia pack near Elk River, ID. This pack, composed of what appears to
be just the alpha pair and their 3-4 pups, was documented when Dave Thomas
(WS) captured and collared B221, also a pup, during a control action about
2 weeks ago. This is only the second time a free-ranging wolf has been
captured using this technique, both times by Isaac.

Kent Laudon (NP) scoured the area where the uncollared Eldorado pack
had a rendezvous site in '03, but despite extensive and intensive surveys,
he was unable to capture a wolf. This pack was not using the '03 site and
Kent was able to find wolf sign only at widely scattered locations in the
vicinity.

Anthony Novack and volunteer Anastacia Kampe (NP) attempted to
radio-collar additional members of the O'Hara Point pack north of Elk
City, ID. To date no wolves have been captured, although the rendezvous
site has been located and traps are set nearby. A dead wolf pup was
discovered at the rendezvous site; it was collected and will be sent to
the Forensics lab in Ashland, OR to determine the cause of death.

Jim Holyan (NP) spent 3 days searching for the Orphan pack in hopes of
conducting a trapping operation there, but was unsuccessful in locating
the pack. He then began surveying in the Burgdorf area where recent
reports indicate that yet another pack, including pups, may be
established. He heard 2-3 wolves howling and is continuing to trap.

In a previous control action, WS collared a lone wolf in the Sunlight
Basin area that was using the home range of the Absaroka Pack. On a
follow-up flight, WS located the Absaroka Pack and confirmed 5-6 adults
and 4 pups. All the wolves looked healthy with no signs of mange.

Jon Trapp and Liz Bradley trapped and collared 3 more wolves in the
Teton Pack, deploying a total of 3 GPS collars for Grand Teton NP research
and 3 VHF for routine monitoring. Their trapping efforts will shift to the
Washakie Pack.

While investigating a suspect bear-killed calf [was just being
scavenged by a bear] WS also located sign of 3 wolves that were also
scavenging on the carcass in the upper part of the West Fork of the
Madison Valley in SW MT. No radioed groups of wolves are believed to be
using this area.

Control

Rick Williamson (WS) captured and collared a pup (B223) from the
Jureano Mountain pack near Salmon, ID during a control action there. This
confirms that the Jureano Mountain pack reproduced this year, although at
this time it is not known if they qualify as a breeding pair. Alpha male
B106's signal has not been heard for some time, and because he was the
only collared wolf, documenting the status of this pack was difficult. The
addition of B223 will greatly facilitate monitoring here.

A reported depredation south of Grangeville, ID was being investigated
by Justin Mann of Wildlife Services. Control actions for the Gold Fork and
B45 packs have concluded.

Gary Looney (ID WS), confirmed 3 more depredations on sheep by the
Steel Mtn. pack. He was authorized to lethally remove one adult wolf and
started trapping. On Tuesday the 24th, he captured a 50-# gray male pup.
Since he did not have a collar with him at the time and it was a 25-mile
trip to get in cell phone range to try and get a radio collar, he released
the pup on site. The depredations have stopped since the capture and
release of that pup and trapping has ceased as of the 30th.

Three members of the Hazard Lake wolf pack in west-central Idaho were
lethally removed by helicopter gunning on August 31 (B-182 and B-185, both
subadult females) and September 1 (B-105, the alpha male) after repeated
efforts to remove them by ground techniques had been unsuccessful. B-105
has a long history of being involved in livestock depredations. The
Service, WS and the Tribe provided non-lethal training and
less-than-lethal munitions and RAG boxes to the sheep producer and their
personnel on July 8 and in late July. The producer also used multiple
guard dogs and herders with each band of sheep in conjunction with the
non-lethal techniques provided, but still suffered repeated depredations.
Incremental removal of the Hazard pack was authorized beginning July 29
after one lamb was killed on July 23 and another 23 sheep were injured and
missing. The July 23 attack was followed by another depredation on July 29
when the Hazard pack was implicated (telemetry) in the injury of 21 sheep
and the disappearance of another 14 sheep. Two wolves were lethally
removed on July 30 (subadult male) and August 1 (subadult female).
Subsequently, nineteen more sheep were classified as "possible" kills or
missing on August 4 from attacks by the Hazard pack. B-105 and B-182 were
documented to be in the area of most of the depredation incidents and were
specifically targeted for removal. Lethal ground removal efforts to remove
the Hazard pack continued without success through August 23 when six more
sheep were killed and six were injured. The Service authorized the removal
of one additional wolf (B-183 or B-185) for removal in addition to the
ongoing effort to remove B-105 and B-182 at that time. Remaining members
of the Hazard pack include B-183, the uncollared alpha female and at least
3-5 pups. Control actions have ceased unless further depredations occur.

On the 26th, WS confirmed that wolves had attacked two yearling heifers
about two weeks apart on private land near Red Lodge, MT. The first
heifer appears to be healing but will be scarred. The other heifer
sustained more injuries and will be euthanized by the ranch. A black
and gray wolf were seen by employees of the ranch. WS will trap to radio
collar and will monitor the situation unless more depredations occur.

On Aug. 23, Mike Ross and other FWP personnel issued cracker shells to
an allotment rider in the Taylor fork area as wolves had been seen in the
cattle. The rider hazed wolves on numerous occasions and asked for more
shells which were issued on the 25th. Both the Chief Joe and Bear creek
radioed animals have been in the area and no depredations have been found
or documented as of yet. The rider commented that he shot off a cracker
shell under a black radio collared wolf (possibly the Bear Trap male) and
since then has seen its behavior change to being wary when he rides up on
it. We will follow up on the riders opinion on harassing tools and their
effectiveness.

Ross received a call from a pet owner in the Norris area Sept.3 that
her dog was killed by a wolf while out on its chain. The owner did not
want project personnel to investigate and felt it could have been another
predator as bears have been seen frequenting the area.

A sheep producer on a remote [5 miles from a road] Forest Service
allotment had his sheep band tested by wolves on the 29thth but his herder
and dogs drove the wolves off. On the 30th the wolves returned and killed
his border collie. His guard dog was badly wounded and is now
missing. WS headed to the area in the Gravelly range NE of Dillon, MT and
confirmed the wolf attack and a dead herding dog. It doesn’t appear that
any sheep were killed either night. WS set traps and will attempt to put
collars on this pack, to determine if this is a new pack or if it is the
existing Freezeout pack and hopefully drive them from the area. The
producer drove up that night and gave the herder another guard dog. He was
issued a special take permit to take up to 2 wolves in the act of biting
grasping wounding his sheep, horses, or livestock herding or guarding
animals on that allotment. WS pulled traps Sept. 2 as the area is swarming
with bow hunters.

On the 27th, a rancher in Paradise Valley reported that wolves killed a
calf near the Sheep Mtn. pack territory. WS confirmed the loss of the calf
to wolves and the Sheep Mtn. pack was located via telemetry very close to
the depredation site. Wolf 334 was previously located by aircraft
several times in the cattle and was in cattle during a confirmed
depredation. WS was authorized to remove wolf 334 and did so on the 31st.
At the time #334 was thought to be the alpha male for the pack but turned
out to be the alpha female. Evidently the capture sheets were switched or
mislabeled at the time of its capture with another wolf, #332. Regardless,
she was the primary wolf preying on the cattle. The male, (whose number is
now #332) has not been found since March of 2004.

Ross and Asher visited a landowner in the Boulder area E. of
Livingston, MT on 9/1 after receiving reports of the Moccasin Lake pack
harassing cattle on FS allotment. A meeting to discuss wolf issues with
project personnel and landowners in the area was discussed but no date has
been set. The landowner has a shoot-on-site permit for his private land..

WS examined a calf west of Kalispell on the 27th on a forest
company allotment and confirmed that wolves were responsible. This is an
area north of the Fishtrap pack and south of the Wolf Prairie pack. WS
will try to harass wolves out of the rendezvous site and away from the
cattle.

A landowner in the Ninemile Valley called to report that a wolf just
went thru an electric fence [provided a couple of years ago by Defenders
of Wildlife after several other llamas had been killed] to try and kill
some young llamas. The llamas scattered thru the back side of the fence.
The landowner shot several times in the air and drove the wolf back thru
the electric fence. The fence had just been checked and was in good
working order. About 3 weeks prior to this incident another wolf came into
the yard before being drove off by shotgun blasts as well. The landowner
could hear other wolves howling about a mile away. A shoot on sight permit
was renewed for the landowner. Jack Bucklin will begin trapping in the
area to radio collar one of the Ninemile wolves and monitor the situation.
WS will assist when trapping has ceased west of Kalispell.

WS investigated the possible depredation of a horse near Plains on the
30th but it was not confirmed.

WS specialist from the Dillon, MT area trapped a member of the
Battlefield pack on the 31st, but couldn’t locate it. He is
used his dog to trail it but with no luck that day. The control action
[collar and release on site] was in response to a confirmed calf
depredation last week. WS continued to search and found the yearling male
on the 1st. He was in good shape and was radio-collared and
released on site.

On August 21, USFWS and WYG&F examined a dead cow on the Teton Park
grazing allotment. The cow was not killed by wolves or grizzly bears, but
had been scavenged by a bear. The carcass was removed and we will continue
to monitor wolves and cows in the Park closely. At the Park's request, the
livestock producer has stationed a ranch hand on the allotment to monitor
wolves and cattle throughout each night. Teton wolves have not recently
been in the cattle.

On August 25, USFWS examined the remains of a calf possibly killed by
wolves on a ranch adjacent to Teton National Park. USFWS is working with
the rancher and we will continue to keep a close watch.

Two wolves [52 lb pups] were killed near Dubois, WY under a private
land shoot-on-site permit. At least 7 calves have been killed by these
wolves this summer. The Washakie pack presently consists of 7-8 adults and
4-5 pups.On the 1st another calf was killed by the
Washakie pack on a Forest Service allotment and WS was asked to remove 3-5
more wolves from that area.

A lone wolf that killed a calf on an public land grazing allotment near
Kemmerer, WY around the 23rd, and was just been monitored to
see if it stayed in the area or killed more livestock, was confirmed to
have killed another calf on a public land grazing allotment on the 1st.
WS was asked to lethally remove it.

Research

Three GPS collars were placed on Teton Park wolves which will be part
of a joint study with Grand Teton Park, USFWS, and the Teton Cougar
Project. One study objective is to investigate interactions between
grizzly bears, wolves and cougars. In addition 3 regular VHF collars were
put in the pack by our WY field crew. Good job, Mike, Liz and Jon.

Two radio-activated blow-off Televilt GPS collars on wolves in
Yellowstone National Park did not blow-off. The were designed to be
activated at the users discretion and but both attempts from the air and
ground failed. There is a programmed "back-up' scheduled to blow off
mid-winter so we may have to wait to get the collars back then. Den visits
continue in Yellowstone NP to pick-up scats and take den measurements.

Information and education and law enforcement

Therese Hartman [volunteer Mt FW&P] gave a presentation to about 15
people at the Holland Lake campground on August 21. She began with a
puppet show and then talked about wolf history in North America and wolf
ecology followed by Q and A. Most attendees were from Montana and one
family was from Alaska. There were lots of questions about the locations
and numbers of wolves in Montana and a good deal of interest in how wolves
will be managed by the state while the delisting process proceeds. After
the talk everyone took the opportunity to look through the wolf box,
posters and a photo album full of pictures of local wolves.

On August 30th Doug Smith gave a Yellowstone National Park
Amphitheater talk at Canyon to general public. Nearly 100 people attended.

Steve Nadeau gave a presentation and update on wolf management in Idaho
to about 100 IDFG wildlife biologist on August 17 at Coeur D'Alene. Jason
Husseman and Michael Lucid also presented information on wolf monitoring
protocol to the group.

The Service's weekly wolf report can now also be viewed at the
Service's Region 6 web site at http:
//westerngraywolf.fws.gov/ . This report is government public property
and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.